Anchored birling float



Jan. 7, 1964 w. E. WELCH 3,116,925

ANCHORED BIRLING FLOAT Filed July 3, 1961 INVENTOR Wzzzz'dwzvxza/gBY/ZZZ ATT/ORNEYS United States Patent 3,116,925 ANCHORED BHRIJNG FLOATWiliiarn E. Welch, 23 Royal Oaks Drive, Roseburg, Greg. Filed July 3,1961, Ser. No. 121,706 4 Claims. (Cl. 272-1) This invention relatesgenerally to amusement and exercising devices in the field of aquaticsports, and in particular to a cylindrical float adapted to freelyrotate about its axis while held against any substantial movement oftranslation, laterally or axially.

Birling, as a contest of skill and agility, has long been practicedamong the workers in timbering operations. This involves a pair ofcontestants treading a freely floating log, with each striving todismount the other by rotating the log about its axis, by treading withthe feet, in a manner calculated to upset his equilibrium. In thissport, the logs are of considerable size and mass, and thereforepossessed of high inertia, so that, whereas axial rotation is easilyeffected, there is little tendency for the log to move about on thesurface of the water. The hardness and inertia of the log also increasethe chances of serious personal injury.

By the device of the present invention I have contrived to bring theattractive features of this sport within the spheres of action of allareas of aquatic sports, while eliminating the hazardous features.

It is therefore a general object of the invention to provide a birlingdevice which shall have universal application in areas of aquaticsports. More particularly, it is an object to provide a floating,cylindrical object which, while of substantial size, is neverthelessrelatively low in weight and inertia. A related object is to provide alow inertia, cylindrical float having end attachments with swivelfeatures for mooring or anchoring lines, whereby to constrain the floatagainst movement of translation, while permitting axial rotation. Yetanother object is to provide an anchorable float in which protrudingparts are avoided.

These and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in theart, are attained by the present invention, a preferred form of which isdescribed in the following specification, as illustrated in the drawing,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a swimming pool, showingthe cylindrical float secured by lines attached to opposite sides of thepool;

FIGURE 2 is an axial sectional View through the float;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view, to enlarged scale, of the rightward endof the float of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the float, as seen from the rightin FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, there is shown, inFIGURE 1, two side walls it 12, and an end wall 14, of an outdoorswimming pool, holding a body of water 16. Embedded in Wall is aneyebolt 18, anchoring a rope or cable 29, the outer end of which isattached to one end of the float 22. A similar eyebolt (not visible) inwall 12 anchors a rope or cable 24, the outer end of which is attachedto the other end of float 22. Lines 20 and 24 carry conventional floats26 at suitable intervals along their lengths, and these may be of cork,wood, plastic, or other low density material.

As seen in FIGURES 2 to 4, the float 22 has the general form of a rightcircular cylinder, and in the case illustrated the buoyancy is attainedby employing a hollow, metallic shell, of aluminum or the like, with athin wall, waterproof throughout. In order to render it freely rotativeabout its axis the float 22 has swivel connections with anchoring lines20, 24, and in order to 3,116,925 Patented Jan. 7, 1964- locate thecoupling hardware so as to avoid contact by users of the float, the endsof the float are recessed inwardly, as shown by the conical end faces28. Each end face 28, at its apex carries, externally, an eye 30 towhich the anchoring line is connected through the swivel. The latter,which is of conventional form, is shown as having a central, journalhousing 32 in which is mounted, for rotation on a common axis, a headedmember 34 having an eye 36 interengaged with eye 30, and an opposite,headed member 38 having an eye 40, to which the end of line 24, (or 20)is secured.

With the arrangement shown, the float is held against both endwise andsidewise movement, but is freely rotatable about its axis. Thus, therotational feature may be brought into full play, without thetroublesome disadvantage which would arise if the low inertia float hadfreedom to move in a horizontal plane. In other words the float diflersfrom a common log in its low inertia and safety features, and theinertia compensating device of an anchorage. This anchoring feature alsopresents novel features over known floats in having axially directedanchor lines which hold the float in a fixed position, while permittingrotation of the float, and with no external mounting structure betweenthe ends of the float which would interfere with a full 360 turn of aperson rotating with the float.

In lieu of the hollow float shown, the cylinder may be made in solidform, from low density material, such as a porous plastic, a fiberglassreinforced polyester, or any of a variety of known materials which havecome into use by virtue of their high floatability and permanence. Likethe hollow cylinder, these will be of sufiicient rigidity to resistdeformation of the cylinder in normal uses during aquatic play, havehigh strength to weight ratio, have a smooth surface, and benon-corrosive. The enjoyment of the device depends upon its ability tofloat lightly, rotate freely, and be harmless. Recessing the couplingsplaces them where they will not bruise or scratch the users. All weldsor joints are smoothed to eliminate projections which would scratch skinor tear clothing. The low inertia of the float is also a safeguardagainst injury.

Besides the matter of safety, the low weight of the float makes iteasily handled, and carried about, even by children.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, modificationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, while I haveillustrated substantially a true cylinder in the drawings and haveemployed this term in the specification and claims, it is intended toinclude by this terminology other geometrical shapes such as floatshaving an octagonal cross section or other bodies of essentiallycylindrical shape. Accordingly, the invention should not be deemed aslimited except insofar as shall appear from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A rotatable float for aquatic play, comprising an elongate, hollow,water-proof cylinder having inwardly dished end faces of conical form,with vertices on the axis of the cylinder, an external eye carried byeach end face at its vertex, and a swivel housing at each of said faceshaving a first rotatable loop interengaging with said eye, and a secondrotatable loop axially aligned with said first loop, and adapted forattachment to an anchor line.

2. A rotatable float for aquatic play comprising an elongate, floatingcylinder, having inwardly dished end faces of conical form, withvertices on the axis of the cylinder, an external eye carried by eachend face at its vertex, and a swivel housing at each of said faceshaving a first rotatable loop interengaged with one of said eyes, and asecond loop rotatable on a common axis With said first loop, and adaptedfor attachment to an anchor line.

3. A rotatable float for aquatic play comprising an elongate, floatingcylinder, having inwardly dished end faces, an external eye carried byeach end face, and a swivel housing at each of said faces having a firstrotatable loop interengaged with one of said eyes, and a second looprotatable on a common axis with said first loop, and adapted forattachment to an anchor line.

4. A rotatable float for aquatic play comprising an 4 elongate,floatable cylinder, having inwardly dished end faces, an external eyecarried by each end face, and a swivel link interconnected with each ofsaid eyes and adapted for connection with an anchoring line.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS621,726 Wiemer et al. Mar. 21, 1899 2,088,251 Walters July 27, 1937 102,175,197 Kent Oct. 10, 1939 2,945,468 Payne July 19, 1960

4. A ROTABLE FLOAT FOR AQUATIC PLAY COMPRISING AN ELONGATE, FLOATABLECYLINDER, HAVING INWARDLY DISHED END FACES, AN EXTERNAL EYE CARRIED BYEACH END FACE, AND A SWIVEL LINK INTERCONNECTED WITH EACH OF SAID EYESAND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH AN ANCHORING LINE.